NAIA Women’s Soccer Players of the Week - No. 9

Martinez and Skillman claim national women's soccer weekly honors

October 30, 2012

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By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports InformationPhoto by Tanner Colvin Photography

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Melissa Martinez of Kansas Wesleyan has been named the NAIA National Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week and Becca Skillman of MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) has been tabbed National Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Martinez and Skillman were selected based on their performances from Oct. 22 - 28 and were chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Martinez, a native of Riverside, Calif., scored six goals and 12 points to lead Kansas Wesleyan to a 2-0 week and its second-straight Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season championship. The freshman forward opened the week with one goal against Saint Mary (Kan.) on Oct. 24, before setting the Coyote single-game record in a five-goal performance in Kansas Wesleyan's 6-0 win over Sterling (Kan.) on Oct. 27 - the first time the Warriors had surrendered six goals this season. Martinez scored three of her five in the first half against the Warriors, including the game-winner in the 24th minute.

Skillman, a goalkeeper from Olathe, Kan., made a school-record 21 saves to preserve a 0-0 draw against nationally ranked Benedictine (Kan.) on Oct. 27 - marking only the second time this season the Ravens have been held scoreless. The senior faced 38 shots and 10 corner kicks against Benedictine, who entered the contest and currently ranks as the NAIA leader in goals with 81.

Skillman owns a 4-3-1 record, 1.22 goals against average and .848 save percentage in 10 appearances (eight starts) this season.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

For the complete player of the week calendar, click here. The final NAIA National Women's Soccer Players of the Week for 2012 will be announced on Nov. 6.